Translation as Storytelling
Susan Bernofsky discusses her approach to the translation of several masterpieces from the German canon.
Translating is always a kind of storytelling, says Susan Bernofsky, a way of giving an account of a reading of a work. When re-translating classic literature, the translator’s own story becomes an additional factor in the interpretation of the work. In this talk, Bernofsky discusses her approach to the translation of several masterpieces from the German canon, including her current project: Thomas Mann’s 1924 novel Der Zauberberg (The Magic Mountain).
Please note this lecture will take place entirely online. To join, please register on the left side of this page. All registered guests will receive participation instructions one to two days prior to the event.
Meet the speaker
Susan Bernofsky directs the translation program at Columbia University’s School of the Arts. She completed her BA at Johns Hopkins University, MFA in fiction at Washington University in St. Louis, and PhD in comparative literature at Princeton University. Bernofsky has taught at Bard College, Sarah Lawrence College, and Queens College. Her translations include eight works…
Listen to the Podcast
Hear the full conversation, recorded live at the Hans Arnhold Center.